In the studio

Stole, turkish lace stitch, size 17 wood needles, polyester and metallic yarn

This is the piece that has been driving me crazy. I've now ripped it out about ten times. I think I'm going to give up the idea of making a garment out of it. There seems to be no way I can get it to drape in a way that I like, or in a way that could make it pleasant to wear for more than about five minutes.

It might make a very lovely purse if worked on small needles so that the fabric is a good firm one.

In the studio

Scarf, garter stitch, mixed fibers: nylon, polyester, rayon; size 7 wood cable needle, 24 in. Approx 6 in wide.

This scarf feels "funny", but I think it's a good experiment. Sorry about the evening light with the photo again. It's the last one! I started this experiment while I was in Texas with just two yarns, and when I brought that back I ripped it out. The first attempt was about 3 in. wide. But there was something calling me to do more with the idea, so here is a wider version with more colors. It's not a "warmth" scarf, but a fashion accessory idea, so the color and texture are meaningful. I think of the scarf as being combined with very smooth fabrics for maximum constrast. It should be worn untied, as a stole or loosely tied in Ascot mode.

In the studio

Vest, "ladder" yarn, nylon and rayon in "old gold" colorway; stockinette stitch, size 13 cable needle, 16in.

I tried to take this photo in afternoon light, and so next time I'll know to capture the morning light. However, this is the "vest" thingie, front bodice piece. The needle size makes the fabric very lacy. This will be the most complicated structure I've attempted in a long time, but I'm looking forward to doing it and wearing it!

In the Studio

Purse, cotton "Crysalis" yarn, rib stitch, size 9 wood needle

I got this off the needles recently. It's ready for lining, seams, a strap and a beautiful button. Finding the right button sometimes becomes quite a project. I tend not to settle for just any old button. This one looks like it might do with an old horn button from a big leather coat. I have two more skeins of the Chrysalis yarn by Colinette. The colors are very attractive to me and I like the rib stitch. But I think I may try another stitch.

This past weekend I was working with one of the "railroad" or "ladder" yarns, this one dyed by Blue Heron Yarns. It's called Old Gold and is dyed to be a darker blend of golds, greens and browns with little touches of other harmonious colors. The yarn is nylon and rayon, and the nylon cords that could be called the "rails" are very springy. After 17 rows a huge bunch of stitches sprang off the needles and I had to start over, casting on 106 stitches. Oy! I took what I have finished to the Saratoga Needle Arts yarn shop on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, and the great staff there helped me find a beautiful match that I'll use to make a border. You'll see in the upcoming photo that the colors are tricky. It's just a tricky yarn altogether!

In the studio

Shawl, wool yarn, size 13, 24 inch cable needle, rib stitch.

I've been carrying this shawl around with me because it's easy to knit it and talk at the same time. It's an Auracania yarn, and they seem to be specializing in that uneven "hand dyed" look. Yes, the reds in this photo are not consistent along the strand of yarn, and result is an uneven surface color. I think it makes one's eye move over the fabric in a way that a perfectly even color cannot.

The combination of the rib stitch along with the relatively large needle size make this fabric very stretchy and springy. I have a lot of this yarn because I got it in a grab bag from Webs, so I'm going to make this shawl very large. I'm imagining the eventual owner wrapping up in it and feeling luxuriously pampered and cozy.

If anything worries me about the design of this piece, it's about the edge. Maybe I need to consult my Nicki Epstein books on edges.

In the studio

This is just a "progress" photo for this huge thang.

I'm still loving it.

Yeah, yeah, I'm knittin' too

But over the weekend I started making cards again. It's been a long time because KNITTING ATE MY LIFE for the past half year.

Besides, I keep forgetting to upload knitting photos from the camera.